"No goodnight kiss for me?" for Nomin and Estinien? :D
hihi, janzoo! TT u TT sorry for the delay on this one. it'd been really hard to get back into the driver's seat for nomin and estinien for a little bit there! but i think this ended up coming out okay? maybe! in any case, i hope that today treats you well! thank you so much for the prompt ask!
kiss prompts
word count: 1,788
Navigating the waters of being in a relationship hidden away from the others was…interesting. It was interesting to Nomin whenever she and Estinien stole away for the quiet hours of the night to merely spend time in each other's presence. Had she told herself in the past that this was where the two of them would be, her younger self would have baked in laughter at the absurdity of the claim.
But now, it was far from being absurd. The most absurd thing for Nomin now was imagining her life without Estinien in it in any capacity.
"What is it?" Estinien asked when they had paused upon the bridge that overlooked one of the rivers that ran out into the Scholar's Harbor. His attention was set upon Nomin, this quiet curiosity only an apparition in the way he looked at her.
Nomin drew her hands behind her back and paced in large steps toward and then past Estinien. Then she turned on her heel and looked at him. In return, there was this prying sense about her.
"Words dance behind those lips of yours. Speak." It was a gentle demand from Estinien, but a demand nonetheless.
A chuckle bubbled from Nomin, muffled by still yet closed lips. Estinien's steely gaze narrowed.
"… It's nothing of import," Nomin replied, walking up to Estinien and moving her hands back to her sides. Tentatively, she reached up and rested her fingertips upon his forearm. "Merely…thinking. About us. Now that the star is no longer under the threat of the Final Days, and we…"
Nomin trailed off after a moment, her fingers dropping slowly from Estinien's arm. There were no lies that were shared between them the night before they took to the stars and beyond — only a discussion of passion shared between the heat of their bodies. However, now that they were both there — alive after everything — there was the question of where they would go from there. These were new waters to navigate, and they may have started tumultuous, but now there was this…calm. It was calm, and there was uncertainty for what future laid ahead in their uncharted course.
"Sounds like it is a matter of import," Estinien commented, catching Nomin's hand in his gingerly. His thumb ran over the smooth scales that lined the back of her hand. "Are we to pretend it didn't happen? Move on now that the star may turn in peace?"
The tone of Estinien's voice just then as well as the tug of his aether upon Nomin's Echo made it clear that he was not a fan of that idea. He came up with it, though.
"Nothing of the sort." Nomin moved her hand to be laced with his. Lifting her gaze, Nomin's cyan limbal rings cut through the darkness when she flicked her eyes up at him. "I suppose this is new. That's all… I fear I've never found myself in this situation, nor have I ever really fantasized about such a life. But…what I told you then — about how I grew to love you? That was all true."
Nomin's hand slowly tightened.
"I suppose that unnerves me in some way. When I think about myself beyond the time that is now…I wish only to see it with you at my side. While I may have had that sentiment with others I've developed bonds with, none are in the way I think about it when it comes to how I imagine it with you," Nomin explained, closing some distance between the two of them to where they were now sharing in the gentle warmth they both exuded.
"'Tis much unlike you to be so shaken over something so…mundane," Estinien chuckled.
"And yet your aether tells me that you share in this sense of unease," Nomin teased, her smile widening a fraction. With a tiny scoff let out through her nose, Nomin bobbed her head to the side momentarily. "Despite that, I…find myself oddly comforted by that. To know that I am not the only one navigating such a new path in our lives."
A quieted grunt came out of Estinien, and he finally curled his fingers to grasp Nomin's hand in turn. In an uncharacteristically softened tone, Estinien responded: "Aye, well…'tis as I said before: there is nowhere I'd rather be than standing shoulder to shoulder with you."
A flush crept up the back of Nomin's neck and into her cheeks, and her tail flicked a couple of times behind her. To have heard it then felt grounding and gave Nomin a surge of courage to actually prevent Estinien from leaving after he had bared part of his heart out to her. Hearing it now made her feel like she could be blown away by the gentle breeze that sung soundlessly over the island colony.
"… And I, you…" Nomin returned, her voice just as soft.
Cricket song and the whisper of leaves being disturbed by the wind became their companion along with the gentle chorus of water babbling its way to the harbor. It was like this for a time, and Estinien's forehead slowly came down to rest against the top of Nomin's own as they simply basked in each other's presence. This quiet companionship was something they both sought out — not so much like this, but the two of them had simply shared space before in the past. Hells…they had even sought each other out, not that either of them voiced this, or even consciously really acknowledged it for what it was.
Then the moment was over. Estinien slowly removed himself from Nomin, only looming over her with this tender look in his gaze.
"… Shall I accompany you back to your quarters?" Estinien inquired.
"Not absconding to only The-Twelve-knows-where?" Nomin playfully poked back at him, her tail curling up ever so slightly at the tip.
"If you would prefer the aching cold of your bed, I could leave you to it." That was when a smirk tugged at Estinien's lips. He knew full well that Nomin despised the chill air — that much had been gleaned during their ventures throughout Coerthas and the Churning Mists together. His jest, however, earned this pout from Nomin, even if she could feel how his aether indicated he was not serious. At least not within that moment.
"I'd like your company," Nomin replied simply.
Estinien's head bobbed in a shallow nod. "Very well."
Their time was silent in the hours of the night they spent together going back to the Baldesion Annex to make use of the Andron. The scent of parchment and ink filled their nostrils upon entering, and while it had become something of a comforting smell to Nomin, she stuck close to Estinien to get a hint of this smell of pine (or was it cedar?) that seemed to stick to him ever since they had met in the Central Coerthas Highlands. Either way, when they took pause before the doors that led to what were effectively Nomin's chambers during their stay in Old Sharlayan, Nomin found herself pinching the sleeve of Estinien's shirt between her fingers.
"You…are going to stay…right?" Nomin quietly asked.
Estinien stayed silent for a time. Ever since the events of Ultima Thule, he knew that Nomin seemed to struggle with the idea of being left again. Left permanently. If the events of Ultima Thule played out another way, she would be here. On her own. Carrying only the memories of him. Him and everyone else. Or perhaps she would not be there to carry them at all, and Etheirys would be naught more than erased from the cosmos.
"As long as you require," Estinien finally confirmed. "Till your eyes have closed. Till you open them again on the morrow."
Nomin pushed the doors open with Estinien's reassurance, her hand at his sleeve moving to take his hand. Once inside and situated with their shoes off, Nomin took to sitting on the edge of the bed. Estinien joined her as soon as he had made sure the doors were locked. Though Nomin was tired, she leaned her head — her horn, mostly — against Estinien's shoulder, a contented sigh falling from her.
"Mm…seems you still need your rest…" It was an observation made. Though Nomin had been free of the care of Sharlayan's chirurgeons for a fortnight now, there were still aches and sores that wore her out if she was up and about for too long. Now was no exception.
A pout formed on Nomin's face, and she directed it upward at Estinien.
"… What? Upset I dare to show concern over your well being?" Again, Estinien offered a jest, and Nomin only rolled her eyes, shaking her head as a smile flickered across her lips.
"No…I was thinking…perhaps I'd be more amenable to rest if I were to get a goodnight kiss?" Nomin ended her statement in question.
Had Nomin not felt that flustered tug of aether to her Echo, the only tell that Estinien was flustered by this notion was the dusting of rose that fell across his cheeks and even traveled into the tips of his ears. Still, a smile forced its way onto his face before he shook his head. Lifting a hand, Estinien ran the back of his fingers across Nomin's horn, his blunted nails scraping across the hardened surface. "And here I was thinking you'd be more taken were I to engage in your auri way of affection."
Nomin's tail slowly curled closer to her body, the tip of it pointing upward when Estinien did this. Bouncing her leg to push away the sudden tingling sensation that flooded her, she huffed. "I am also keen on trying other ways of affection that you'd be familiar with."
Again, Estinien gave this brief and quiet laugh. His voice was soft yet again, "… Very well."
Reaching for Nomin's chin, Estinien gently cupped it and pointed her face toward him. He had the more difficult task of 'threading the needle' here for Nomin. However, if it was what she wanted, then it was what she would get. Her horns only gave Estinien an ilm or so on either side to press his lips to hers comfortably, but he still managed it. He managed it, and he made sure to give her a kiss that was tender. Hopefully it would have pleased her.
Estinien could feel Nomin's lips curve into a smile, and when he pulled away, he saw it in full. Just a happy, warm smile on Nomin's face — her eyes reflected it just as much.
"Good enough?" Estinien questioned.
"Mm…" Nomin nodded. "More than good enough. I believe I may finally rest easy this eve."
you're not supposed to wander around appalachia at night bc you'll fall off a sheer drop that you couldn't see coming. this is also a major risk during the day. you really have to watch out for the sheer drops that you don't see coming due to the undergrowth. I suspect 100% of spooky missing persons cases in appalachia have the spooky explanation of "sheer drop disguised by undergrowth"
really cannot overstate how many utterly invisible ravines we got here and also how big the woods are. they can't find people because the woods? are big
Gifts for my FFXV friends :> (+Prim)
@destinidestati @leafyartstuffs @savage-rhi
crawling out of my hole for just a little while to present these for my friends. the girls~ as i call them: my favorite xv oc girlies. ♥ i made them all little headshots along with prim, and i wreathed them in flowers i felt were appropriate of their love interests. shipping art of a different caliber.
flowers and meanings below the cut
primam wreathed in prompto ->
sunflower :: the sunflower, as the name entails, is a sunny flower with a lot of happiness, warmth, and joy tied to it for its floriology -- or flower language. sunflowers are flowers that are defined as always pointing toward the sun. this has made the sunflower also come to mean adoration, loyalty, devotion, and hope. it is also seen as an optimistic flower, as its aforementioned feature to always follow the sun has also come to represent finding light in even the darkest of times.
primrose (yellow) :: just like most yellow flowers, the yellow primrose is associated with happiness, warmth, and joy. however, the yellow primrose also is long lasting. it has been used to represent deep bonds between people, especially those who have been with you thick and thin, and prompto has built himself up as someone to be seen as worthy, putting others before himself, and being the best friend he can to everyone he cares about.
primrose (red) :: red is often a color associated with deep passion and love when it comes to flower language, and the red primrose is no exception to this. as an early spring bloom, the red primrose also represents young love, charm, and longing for someone. it conveys a message of "i cannot live without you", and when it comes to prompto, it feels like without everyone who stayed in his life, he would be lost. so for him, i do believe the red primrose is perfect for his love for those he wants to keep in his life.
tulip (yellow) :: in the victorian era, yellow tulips were said to mean 'there's sunshine in your smile'. again, it shares a lot of meaning with other yellow flowers as being bright, cheery, and happy. an older meaning of the yellow tulip veered more on the less-than-happy side as being associated with hopeless love or even jealousy. while i don't know prompto to get jealous, we definitely do have a hopeless romantic on our hands when it comes to him!
nasturtium (orange) :: the orange nasturtium is a creative flower, bringing forth positive and creative energy. in the victorian era, this was also considered more of a 'joke' to give to people in jesting nature, though they were kept to keep a fresh smell around the house regardless. other than that, nasturtiums' common symbolism also revolves around patriotism and being victorious in battle.
brunfelsia pauciflora :: also called the 'morning-noon-and-night', 'yesterday-today-and-tomorrow' or the 'kiss-me-quick' flower, the brunfelsia pauciflora has no real dedicated meaning to it (that i could find, and i did look). i kind of just chose it for its names and the sun and moon theme that i often heavily associate with primam and prompto. these flowers' name and epithets come from the fact that its flowers appear in a gradient array of color from purple to white, or vice versa, very often having blooms that also include this pastel purple upon the stems.
larkspur (white) :: as a general, the larkspur has come to symbolize an open heart, sincerity, strong bonds, dedication, and fun. the larkspur is a humorous flower that indicates the desire to laugh and bring a smile to the face. the white larkspur is associated with happiness and joy, much like yellow flowers, though also comes to represent new beginnings -- a fresh start. like other white flowers, it also does symbolize innocence, purity, and grace. the larkspur is also a protective flower, said to ward off evil spirits and was planted in gardens to keep homes safe.
spes wreathed in ignis ->
iris (purple) :: a noble and regal flower, the purple iris is given to represent wisdom, strength, and courage -- it is a flower of recognition for one's accomplishments and achievements. the iris is also a february birth flower (along with pansies, violets, and primrose to name a few!), making it very good for ignis to have with his february 7th birthday. :>
hydrangea (green) :: a fresh flower, the green hydrangea is associated with health and luck. the hydrangea -- in general -- is also a sincere flower, conveying many such emotions like gratitude, understanding, renewal, and abundance.
camellia (pink; winter's interlude) :: one of many different kinds of romantic flower in general, camellias are often given to those close in one's life, and depending on color, carries a different meaning. the pink camellia expresses longing and yearning. it is typically given as a gift to someone in a long-distance relationship, though could also be used to represent missing someone who has passed.
carnation (green) :: the green carnation, like many green flowers, represent health and good luck. these also represent resilience in achieving goals and an enduring fascination.
philippine jasmine (sampaguita; maiden of orleans) :: the symbolism of jasmine is adaptability at the forefront. while it may be used to convey purity and innocence, the jasmine flower also represents virtuousness, delicate romance, grace, passion, and sensuality. i also wanted to place the sampaguita as part of the small bouquet to represent ignis as 'divine hope'. because i feel like none must be more hopeful than ignis to navigate the darkness and learn to grow around his blindness to one day fight again at the king's side to bring back the light.
lavender :: a calming flower, the lavender is a flower that represents serenity, devotion, loyalty, protection, wisdom, unity, and grace. the lavender is an acknowledgment of love, and for ignis, though he may not voice it, he shows it, and he shows it thoroughly with how he cares for others.
vesper wreathed in nyx ->
protea :: the protea flower is a flower of resilience, courage, and represents the ability to overcome challenging conditions. because of its storied history and the fact that the protea takes its name from the greek god 'proteus' who is known to change his form at will, the protea flower also represents the ability to embrace change while also embracing one's individuality. with the snippets of story that leafy has also shared about vesper, i think it apt to also attribute the symbolism of transformation and hope into nyx as he's allowed a life with vesper past the events of kingsglaive.
lotus (blue) :: the blue egyptian lotus represents being strong of spirit, and is revered in egyptian religion and spirituality. in egyptian mythology, the blue lotus connects to the divine, and represents a transition from the afterlife to rebirth with its connection to the sun. given nyx's canon, i felt that the blue lotus was a good representative flower of having a taste of that afterlife and then having a shot at continuing his life at vesper's side (pending on the au that's happening ;))
lotus (purple) :: a mystic flower, the purple lotus -- like many other purple flowers -- is a flower that also represents royalty. though nyx is not of royal or noble birth, there is a noble drive to his actions that shows in his unshakable loyalty to those he swears himself to and the duty he feels he must uphold.
periwinkle (blue) :: as an evergreen flower, the periwinkle has come to mean an everlasting and enduring love -- eternal love. the periwinkle is good for symbolizing a love that is steadfast, loyal, and that nothing will come between the bond that you share. given leafy's very detailed documents on how she headcanons galahdan weddings, i felt that the periwinkle was a very apt flower to give to nyx that represents his enduring feelings for vesper.
periwinkle (purple) :: much like the blue periwinkle above, the purple periwinkle carries many of the same connotations and meanings. similar to the egyptian blue lotus, the purple periwinkle is another spiritual flower, chosen to further represent how strong of spirit that nyx has shown himself to be. it can also be a way of telling someone -- if given as a gift -- that you find them captivating and unique.
bluebell :: a quiet declaration of love and devotion, the bluebell is a romantic flower that has also come to symbolize introspection, personal growth, constancy, and resilience. as spring flowers that bloom shortly after winter, they are also a flower of hope and renewal -- "no matter how dark things get, light and beauty will always return" -- a fitting flower for a man who would give anything so that those he cares for get to see the light of a new day.
caelan wreathed in ardyn ->
black bat flower (tacca chantieri) :: this is actually a new one to me! so i'm not entirely sure of what the flower language for this is in its entirety, and it's possible that what i found could be wrong. when i looked into it, the majority of what i could find is that the black bat flower is said to represent the unknown, transformation, rebirth, courage, and protection. it is also representative of being able to find beauty in darkness. according some some other sources i found, it is said to be a symbol of good luck and prosperity.
dahlia (red) :: while red is a common color across many flowers to represent a deep and abiding love (and the red dahlia is no exception), the red dahlia represents strength, power, the ability to overcome, and great perseverance.
dahlia (white) :: this one may be an interesting one, but hear me out. within the context of rhi's 'immortal shield', ardyn is given a second chance at life -- to really make something of it. so i chose the white dahlia to represent rebirth (not so much purity, but we can also use that to represent the fact that aera is always there, watching over them both and wishing them nothing but happiness in life with one another).
dahlia (purple) :: while there are not many meanings associated with the purple dahlia in general, it was chosen as a royal color, as many purple flowers were used to represent royalty or nobility. a nod to ardyn's role as the true king before it was stripped away from him by somnus.
zinnia (red) :: to start, the zinnia symbolizes absent friends, which there are plenty to be had in rhi's 'immortal shield' as we go through the journey between ardyn and caelan, their relationship budding from acquaintances and then blossoming into a whirlwind of emotion. so the red zinnia was chosen, not necessarily for the love aspect (but it plays a role), but for the strong emotional bond aspect that develops, and that it also represents the steadfast beating of the heart.
zinnia (purple) :: again, purple flowers are often used to represent royalty -- this is true of the purple zinnia. however, the purple zinnia also represents spirituality, elegance, and a sense of pride (much which is to be found in the banter between them both, and the actions they take to avoid having the other come into harm's way).
zinnia (yellow) :: gold is a color that was touched upon in 'immortal shield' -- a striking color when observed in ardyn's eyes. because it was brought up as a defining feature several times that was lingered upon, i added the yellow zinnia. yellow flowers tend to convey feelings of happiness and joy, and while the yellow zinnia holds these meanings, it also holds the meaning of new beginnings and optimism. the yellow zinnia is also the zinnia indicative of daily remembrance.
sweet william dianthus :: the dianthus flower is called the 'flower of the gods', coming from the greek word 'dios' (god) and 'anthos' (flower). the dianthus flower has been treasured for centuries, and are one of the oldest cut flowers. there are an array of meanings associated with the dianthus flower, as it has such a rich history; these meanings range from admiration, passion, capriciousness, affection, love, gratitude, to even sadness and death. quite the flower for a man two millennia old!
flowers in this list that are toxic to pets and should not be given as gifts to people with pets in their household: hydrangea, dahlia, periwinkle, iris, jasmine, carnation, larkspur, morning-noon-and-night, dianthus, primrose, tulip
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